Sheet mill piler



A. G DELANY Nav.. 22, 1938.

` SHEET MILL PILER Filed April 18, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Nov..2, 1938.

y SHEET MILL PILER Filed April 18, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 \NVENTQR RGDehny.

RTTURNEY Nov. 22, 1938. A. G. vlnx-:LAMY 2,137,478

SHEET MILL PILER Filed April 18, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR AT1-ORNEYE,

Nov. 22, 1938.

SHEET MILL PILER Filed April 18, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 -Z\ HLN L.. M m,H

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ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 22,1938

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE N,

SHEET MILL HEER Albanus G. Delany, Gadsden, Ala., assigner, by

mesne assignments, to Republic Steel Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, acorporation of New Jersey Application April 18, 1936, Serial No. 75,094

19A claims.

rocable pilers, to bring the sheets into the requisite alignment for theformation of the desired stack on the piler transfer table.

One distinctive feature of my invention is the provision on oppositesides of the receiving b'ed for the sheets to be stacked of oppositelymovable piler heads which are reciprocated back and forth in synchronismby yieldable chain drives.

A further distinctive feature of my invention is to provide an automaticmechanism, responsive to the delivering of the sheet packs to the pilermechanism, and to the movements of the pliers, to control theirreciprocation. f

A further distinctive feature is the provision, as a partE of thecircuit controller mechanism for the pilers, of a delayed or slow actingcircuit `closing switch which-prevents the reciprocatlon of the pliersresponsive to the ydelivery of each packof sheets, as they normally cometoo rapidlyl from the shears to permit of the pliers recipro eating oncefor each pack, it being quite sufficient if they are reciprocatedautomatically at suitably timed intervals during the delivery of thesheet packs, or if one is thus caused to reciprocate and haverelativemovement to the other.

My invention further comprises a novel ar rangement of'the pilerguides'and of the reversible drive for reciprocating the pliers. insynchronism with a compression spring interposed in the drive to providea yielding and shock absorbing drive for the pilers effective for bothdirections of travel.

More particularly, my invention comprises receiving the sheet stacksfrom pinch rolls on the shear table onto a lower table in positionlbetween a pair of laterally reciprocable pilers which have rollerbearings and, near each end, are connected to reversibly driven chainsthrough compression or cushioning springs so ,interposed as to absorbthe shock of the pliers when they engage the stacked stock and, ifdesired, when they are stopped at the end of. their return or idlestroke, suitable switch means being provided 50 under control of thestock and of the pliers themselves to effect their automatic operationat suitably timed intervals While stock is being fed between them.

The objects of my invention and the novel features of its constructionare hereinafter more particularly described and claimed, reference be-Ving had to the `accompanying drawings which form a part of thisspecification, and in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing an endcutting shear and its table for delivering packs of 5. sheets to thepiler shown in outline only, and a table to carry o the piled stock.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the plier mechanism takenon the line III-III of Fig. 1. 10

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2 omitting any showing of the transfertable for carrying away the. stacked sheets from the piler.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3. l y15 Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line V-V of Fig. 4. y f

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic layout of the wiring circuits and switches forthe control of the piler.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout thedrawings.

I have shown my invention associated with an adjustable end shear I0 forsheet packs I I which are delivered from the shear rolls onto a suitablechain table I2 by means of which they are conducted to a pair of pinchrolls, I3 and I4 having a suitable motor driven chain drive generally`designated by the numeral I5. The sheet packs in'their passage to thesaid pinch rolls engage and throw the trip I6 for a flag switch, thetrip only being shown in Fig. 1. The pinch rolls deliver the sheet packssuccessively onto the chain transfer table of the plier mechanism, whichtable may be of any suitable design but is shown as comprising rollsI'I, driving chains I8 for the rolls, and spaced side angle bearings I9for the rolls, and suitable roll driving sprockets 20.

The rolls comprise removable end sleeves 2| topermit the mounting of thesprockets 20 which are engaged by the chains I8 thereby to drive 40 therolls. yThe chains have driving sprockets 22 driven through the chains23 by the drive mech` anisrn 24 comprising the motor 25. It isunderstood that any suitable transfer table may be used for deliveringthe sheared sheets to the piler 45 and for carrying away the stackedsheets from the piler.

The level of the piler table rolls I1 is substantially below that of thepinch rolls I3 and the requisite number of stacks of sheets can be read-50 ily delivered by these pinch rolls into stacked relation on the pilertable. The piler mechanism acts on the sheet packs that are pushed ontothe rolls I1 and comprises a pair of duplicate transversely reciprocablepilers 26 which will now be 55 described by reference particularly toFigs. 2 and 3, the description of one applying to both.

The vertical piler face plate has its sheet receiving end edge flaredoutwardly at "21 and its oupper edge similarly flared at 28. I connectto each plate on its outer side two parallel housings, each comprisingaV pair of spaced triangular shaped vertical plates 23 disposed normalto the face plate and suitably bolted together with interposed sp'acersleeves. Each housing is connected to its respective piler face plate inany suitable manner, such as by the provision of vertical angles 30along their junction with the piler plate and with horizontal gussetplates or braces 3l.

As shown in Fig. 5, the lower ends of the side plates 29 of each housingare connected together by bolts 32, the upper bolts carrying spacersleeves 39 between its rollers. Track and roller supports,

33 engaging the side plates and the lower bolts carrying shorter sleeves34 interposed between the side anges of a bracket 35. The outer ends ofthe several bolts near each end of the housing pass through an opposedpair of bearing plates 36 and bolt them to the housing with their lowerends depending below the housing and slottedy so as to be slipped downover the ends of an axle 31. Nuts 38 are screwed on the ends of eachaxle 31 and clamp it to the lower end of the bearing plates, aninterposed spacer bearing sleeve 33 being mounted on each axle 31 andhaving mounted thereon a pair of oppositely bevelled rollers 40. Byremoving either of the nuts 38, the roller mountings can be readilydetached from the several housings for repair or replacement.

The rollers 40 havel their inwardly tapering treads engaging the base 4Iof a track rail, the web of which is cut away except at the outer trackend 42 where the web and tread present a stop for the housing byengaging an axle bearing such as described, are provided for eachhousing of each piler plate and the tracks are suitably supported bychairs 43 elevated above the base platform 44 of the piler. Thesechairs, shown more clearly in Fig. 4, raise the track into position forthe lower flight of 'a drive chain 45 to pass alone thereunderand aboutan idler sprocket 46, suitably journalled at the outer-edge of theframe, and about a driving sprocket 41 fast on a drive shaft 48journalled in suitable bearings 49 under the roll bed between thepilers.

Each end of each drive chain 45 is secured to a head 50 oi a pin 5Iwhich is slidable through the transverse web 62 of its respectivebracket 35 and works in a sleeve or housing 63 having a coil spring 54that bears at one end against the web 52 and at the other end against anut 55 screwed on the outer end of the rod and movable freely throughthe housing 53. This arrangement being identical for both ends of thetwo driving chains for each piler, it follows that for-each direction ofmotion imparted by the chains to the pilers, a shock absorbing unit isprovided to take up the jar resulting from their opposed impact againstthe stacked sheets to be piled on their inner or working stroke andtheir engagement with the track stops 42 at the completion of theirouter or return stroke.

As will be seen more clearly in Fig. 3, one shaft 48 has fast thereonthe sprockets 41 for driving the two operating chains 45 for the righthand piler anda similar shaft 48 is provided for the sprocketscontrolling the two drive chains 46 for the left hand piler. T'heseshafts 48 are journalled in spaced bearings 43 and are geared to rotatein unison reversely by means of the meshing gears 66. 'I'he right handshaft 48 has a double sprocket 51 mounted fast thereon adjacent to abearing 58. A double drive chain for this sprocket leads outwardly underthe right hand piler plate to the double sprocket 60 fast on a driveshaft 6 l, that has suitable bearings 62, both mounted. on the piler bedand it carries at its end opposite the sprocket 60 a large gear 63within a housing 64, which gear meshes a small driving gear 65 fast onthe shaft of a reversible motor 66.

When' the motor is driven in one direction it will, through the drivingelements described, cause the several chains 45 to pull the pilerstogether until they engage the side edges of the piled stock resting onthe roll bed l1 between them and align the side edges of the stackedsheet packs. When the motor 66 is reversed, the chains 45 will pull thepilers apart. While the pilers may be thus operated very effectively bymanually operated switch control of the motor 66, I contemplate anautomatic control for this motor which will now be described.

Referring to Fig. 6, the diagrammatic layout of the switches andcircuits will be best understood by relating the same to the pilersshown both in side elevation and in plan so that the response of theswitches both to stock control and piler control may be betterunderstood. The trip I6, which is actuated by the passage of sheet packsil to the pinch rolls I3 and i4, is held in upright position by anysuitable means, such as a spring 10, and when it is tripped with acounterclockwise motion by the passing stock, it acts through the links1l and 12 to move a single blade switch 13 to open contacts 13a andclose contacts 13b. One of the pilers 26 carries a trip element 14which, when the pilers are fully retracted, engages a pivoted` switcharm 15 and opens contacts 15a.

The power leads P and N to the piler control circuits are given a plusand minus mark and, under control of the double blade forwarding switch16 and the double blade reversing switch 11, pass current to the motor66 to reversibly drive same and reciprocate the pilers 26. Theseswitches 16 and 'l1 are actuated by their respective control magnets 16aand 11a and the circuits which they control will be described inconnection with the operation of the apparatus.

I provide a five blade switch 18 controlled by its respective magnet18a, also a three blade switch 19 controlled by its respective magnet19a. The switches 16 to 19 are what may be termed quick actionelectrically operated switches and they may be of any suitable design.

I provide a slow-acting single blade switch 80 adapted to alternatelyclose the contacts 88a or h responsive to the action of its respectivemagnet 80o as modified by the effect of a dash pot 8| which is adaptedto produce the desired slow or retarded action for this switch.

The diagrammatic layout shows the circuit connections between thecontacts controlled by the several switches and the motor 66, and thecircuits as they are closed will now be traced throughout a completecycle of operation of the pilers.

With the trip I6 standing in the idle position shown, switches 16, 11and 19 stand with all contacts open; switch 80 stands with contacts 80hclosed; switch 13 stands with the contacts 13a closed; switch 18 standswith contacts 18h, 18o and 18d open and contacts 18e and 18f closed; andswitch 16 stands with contacts 15a g 19h holds the magnet 19a,energized. When the flag switch trip I6 is released by the passing packof sheets, it opens contacts 13b and closes f contacts 13a and willestablish a circuit to energize the motor 66 and drive the pilers ontheir inward or working stroke, as follows: P-5, magnet 16a, acrossclosed contacts 183 and 19d, P-B, contacts 13a, to N-I. The completionof this circuit closes all contacts controlled by switch 16 so thatcurrent then flows from P-5 across the upper contacts controlled byswitch IB and line P-I to the motor `Iil, returning by line N- acrossthe lower contacts controlled by switch I6 and line N-4 to line N-I. Themotor will respond, driving the pilers on their working or inwardtravel. At the same time magnet 80e becomesl energized by the 4circuitP-I, magnet 80e, P--r8, contacts 19o, P-G, contact 63a to N-I.

The switch 80, being of the hesitating or slowaction type will opencontacts 80h and move slowly towards position to close the contacts 80a.This slow action allows ample time for motor G6 to drive the pilersthrough their full working stroke.- When contacts 80a close. thefollowing circuit is established;P-I', P-8, contacts 15a. magnet ita,contacts 80a to line N-I, thereby raising switch i3, closing itscontacts lb. 'itc and .'ld and opening its contacts 18e and llif. Thisswitch 'IIB forms its own holding circuit P W, "Ia, and closed contacts'itc to line N-I. When contacts 'lili open the magnet 'lIa isde-energized, opening the forward driving switch It and contacts 'ltdare closed so that current flows through the circuit P-l, P-8. contacts15a, P-Wmagnet lilla, contacts ltd to the line N-I. and passes currentin a reverse direction through motor lit so as to move the pilersoutwardly on their return stroke. At the same time switch |19 drops dueto the breaking of the circuit to its magnet 19a', by the opening ofcontacts 78e. The motor tti continues to run in reverse until the pilersopen fully when the trip 'M will strike switch 'it and open contactsIba, de-energizing magnets 'l'ia and Ita and dropping switches v'lll andit which cuts out the motor and opens contacts 'ib to de-'energizemagnet Mc and start the switch til to drop slowly towards its positionfor closing contacts tmb. vDuring the time switch tl] is dropping andswitches 'it and 'i9 stand open, the pilers remain inactive. When switchBil iinally closes contacts till) the apparatus is reset forithe samecycle to commence as soon as a pack of sheets III moves the trip It toclose contacts Ithand lock switch I9 closed.

During each cycle of switch control operations, it is contemplated thata number of packs II may pass over the trip Iii, the number beinglargely determined by the rate of delivery of the packs to the table Itand the time required for the switch 80 to operate. Thus I obtainautomatic switch=control which always starts the cycle in timed relationto a passing pack without reciprocating the pilers more rapidly or fre-`vquently than good practice may indicate.

As the packs are pushed by the pinch rolls I3.

This closes reversing switch 'il' I4 between the pilers they fall moreor less naturally into a pile or stack 85 resting on the rolls I1 of thepiler table which at the time arev sired number of sheets, when a switchis thrown to energize motor 25 and drive the piler table rolls I1 by thechains I8 in a direction to carry oi the pile of sheets for furthertreatment.

The yielding naturel of the chain and spring drive for the pilers willavoid damaging the sheets and yet will have the power to adjust them toproper position.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various changes and modications, without departing from the spiritthereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall beplaced thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specicallyset forth in the appended` claims.

What I claim is:

1`. The combination with a piler transfer table, of delivery means tofeed sheared sheets onto the piler table, opposed pilers oppositelyreciprocablev in synchronism toward and from sheets piled on said table,a yieldable drive for actuating said pilers, means responsive to thedelivery of sheets for inaugurating the working stroke of the pilersautomatically, means to reverse the pilers drive, and means responsiveto the return travel' of the pilers to stop them at the completion of areciproca'ing cycle.

2. A piler mechanism according to claim 1, in combination with means tocontrol the elapsed time in each cycle independently of the delivery ofsheets to said table.

3. A piler mechanism comprising means for delivering a sequence of sheetpacks, a table tol receive the sheet packs, a motor control elementresponsive to the passage of sheet packs to the piler table, oppositelyreciprocable pilers on each side of said piler table, a motor drive forreciprocating the pilers oppositely in synchronism through a workingcycle, means to start the pilers on a cycle responsive to the operationof said motor control element, means to stopthe pilers at the completionof a cycle, and means to render the passage of sheet packs ineffectiveto inuence the operation of the pilersY during a working cycle.

4. A piler mechanism comprising means for de livering a sequence ofsheet packs, a piler table to receive the sheet packs, a motor controlele- ,1n/ent responsive to the passage of sheet packs to the .pilertable, oppositely reciprocable pilers on each side oi said piler table,a motor drive for reciprocating the pilers in synchronism through aworking cycle, means to start the pilers on a cycle responsive to theoperation of said motor control element, means to stop the pilers at thenism through a working cycle, means to start the pilers on a cycleresponsive to the passing of a sheet pack, means to stop the pilers atthe completion of a working cycle, means to render the passage of sheetpacks ineffective to influence the pilers during a working cycle, andmeans effective in each working cycle of the pilers to control the timeintervals elapsing between the start of their working stroke, the startof their return stroke and 'the completion of the wol-ing cycle.

6. The combination with a piler having a transfer table adapted toreceive sheet packs, of means to feed the sheet packs thereto, areciprocable piler, means to drive it inwardly to engage and shape thesheet pile, means to return the piler to initial position, meansresponsive to the passage of a sheet pack to start the piler on itsworking stroke, and means independent of the passage of sheet packs totime the reversal of the piler and its restoration to the control of thesheet packs.

'7. In a piler, the combination with a sheet support, means to feedsheets onto the support, oppositely reciprocable pilers movable insynchronism into engagement with the sheets stacked on said support, areversible electric motor drive comprising yieldable' connections toactuate the pilers on their working stroke, means responsive to thedelivery of sheets to the piler to start said motor to moving the pilerson their working stroke, and means adapted to interpose a time delay inthe reversal of the motor drive to return the pilers to initialposition, said means being adapted to interpose a time delay in therestoring of the motor drive to the control of the sheets forinauguration of another cycle of operation.

8. In a piler, the combination with a sheet support, means to feedsheets onto the support, oppositely reciprocable pilers movable insynchronism into engagement with the sheets stacked on said support, areversible electric motor drive comprising yieldable connections toactuate the pilers on their Working and return strokes, stop means toarrest the return stroke of the pilers, means responsive to the deliveryof sheets to the piler to start said motor to moving the pilers on theirworking stroke, and means adapted to inter- `pose a time delay in thereversal of the motor drive to return the pilers to initial position,said means being adapted to interpose a time delay n the restoring ofthe motor drive to the control of the sheets for inauguration of anotherworking cycle.

9. ln combination, means to convey sheet packs to a piler receivingtable, a switch adapted to be thrown and released by the passing' packs,oppositely reciprocable pilers movable into and out of engagement withthe sheets piled on said table, a reversible motor for drivingsaidpilers, circuit connections closable bysaid switch to start the pilersonly from initial position on a working stroke, automatic switch meansfor selectively closing and holding closed said circuits for apredetermined time interval during the working and return Vstrokes ofthe pilers, and means to stop the. motor and restore it to the controloi' the first mentioned switch and to hold said switch iny effectiveduring the working cycle of the pilers.

10. A piler mechanism according to claim 9, in which the support for thesheet stack is a transfer table having a drive means to adapt it tocarry off the nished piles of sheets from the piler. I

I11. A piler mechanism comprising a sheet support, pilers on oppositesides of said table, piler supports and guides therefor upon which thepilers are reciprocable, drive chains for the pilers having yieldableconnections at each end to the piler supports, a common reversible drivemeans for said chains adapted to move the pilersl oppositely insynchronism through al working cycle, and means to control the elapsedtime involved in such work cycle. v

12. A piler mechanism comprising a sheet support, pilers on oppositesides of said table, piler supports and guides therefor upon which thepilers are reciprocable, drive chains for the pilers having yieldableconnections at each end to the piler supports, a reversible electricmotor for driving said chains to move the pilers opposltely insynchronism through a working cycle, and means .to control the elapsedtime involved in such work cycle, comprising a. quick action startingswitch controlled by the feed of sheets to the piler, a quick actionlstop switch controlled by the pilers to stop their return drive, adelayed action control switch means operable automatically and adaptedto determine the elapsed time for the piler working cycle, and meansunder-control of said switches for supplying current to energize saidelectric motor.

13. A piler for metallic sheets, comprising a rtable adapted to receivethe sheets to be piled,

opposed reciprocable pilers for periodically engaging and shaping thesheets piled on said support, tracks upon which said pilers are movable,a pair of chains for each piler` having at each end a spring connectionto a piler for yieldably driving it in both directions, means reversiblydriven by a. motor for moving the pilers opposltely and in synchronismthrough their work cycle, and means automatically responsive to the feedof sheets and to the return movement of the pilers to effect and controltheir reciprocation automatically.

14. A piler for metallic sheets comprising a table adapted to receivethe sheets to be piled, opposed reciprocable pilers for periodicallyengaging'and shaping the sheets piled on said support, tracks upon whichsaid pilers reciprocate,v

a pair of chains for each piler having at each end a spring connectionto the piler to yieldably drive them in both directions, meansreversibly driven by a motor for moving the pilers oppositely and insynchronism through a work cycle, means automatically responsive to thefeed of sheets and to the return movement of the pilers to effect theirreciprocation automatically, and means to render the pilers unresponsiveto the passagev of sheets during their work cycle.

15. A piler lmechanism comprising a transfer table,v oppositelyreciprocable pilers at the receiving end of said table, means to feedsheets onto said receiving end of said table, means responsive to thefeed of sheets to drive the pilers through a work cycle in which' theymove oppositely into and out of engagement `with the piled l sheets, andmeans to drive said transfer table to carry ci the completed pile ofsheets.

16. A piler mechanism comprising a sheet support, piler elements onopposite sides of said support, at least one' of said pilers beingreciprocable, guides for the reciprocable piler, a chain drive for thereciprocable piler having a yieldable connection at each end tothepiler, a reversible drive for said chain, and means .to control theelapsed time involved in a work cycle of the reciprocable piler.

17. A sheet metal piler, comprising a support adapted to receive thesheets to be piled, conveyor means to deposit the sheets so as to form apile on saidsupport, reciprocable piler means on opposed sides of saidsupport, yieldable drive i elements for each of said piler means, meansby which each of said piler means is caused to, engage opposed edges ofthe piled sheets to arrange them, and means responsive to the passage ofsheets to be piled over said conveyor means for producing operatingcycles of said piler drives.

` 18. A sheet metal piler, comprising a support, means to deliver asequence of sheets to form a pile on said support, c'oactingreciprocable piler means on opposite sides of said support, means toproduce movement of the piler means in opposite directions to yieldablycompress the piled sheets between them, and means automaticallyresponsive to the passage of sheets toward the pile toactuate said pilermeans.

19. A sheet metal piler comprising a support to receive a pile ofsheets, conveyor means to deposit the sheets so as to form a pile onsaid support, coacting piler means on opposed sides of said support,means to reciprocate at least one of said piler means to even up thepile of sheets between them, timing means to control the periodicfunctioning of said reciprocating means, means to actuate said timingmeans responsive to the'passage of sheets over said conveyor, and meansto stop said reciprocating means at the conclusion of an operatingcycle.

.ALBANU S G. DELANY.

